The Guest List
They are courteous.
Three of them use the phrase we take this very seriously.
Two say they will speak with the students involved.
Four say Julian is welcome in the counselling office.
And every one of the eleven ends the matter.
That is the thing I did not see at the time and cannot stop seeing now.
There is no reply in that folder that generates a next step.
Not one of them says: I will get back to you by Friday. Not one says: here is the reference number. Not one says: this is the fourth time you have written to me this year and I have noticed.